ABOUT
Competent Pharmaceutical and Analytical Scientists are in demand in the pharmaceutical industry. If you have a degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy or other related disciplines, the IMU MSc in Analytical & Pharmaceutical Chemistry programme could help you extend your knowledge and expertise in the field.
MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
The programme encompasses drug discovery, drug design, drug development, techniques for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of drugs, quality management and the regulatory environment, and research skills including writing proposals, scientific writing and specialized laboratory skills.
IMU’s Analytical & Pharmaceutical Chemistry programme consists of two semesters and is a combination of course work and research. Learning activities are conducted on weekends for the convenience of working students.
The MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (MAPC) programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. The Royal Society of Chemistry is the world’s leading chemistry community and the oldest chemical society in the world. Accreditation by the Royal Society of Chemistry is a formal recognition that the programme is in line with international quality and standards. Employers are assured that graduates with accredited degrees have achieved the standards required to be considered professional chemists.
Key Facts
About Open and Distance Learning (ODL)
What is ODL?
Open and distance learning provides working professionals with an alternative to conventional programmes at universities, giving them the opportunity to earn a university degree without interrupting their career. As Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university with over 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education, IMU offers a few postgraduate programmes via this learning mode with students having the opportunity to benefit from all the teaching and support that the University has to offer.
Benefits of ODL
Designed especially for students with employment, family or other commitments, this mode of learning provides flexibility and convenience for the student to schedule their studies around these obligations and around their lifestyle – allowing a student to plan and pace their own learning at a time and learning environment that is most suitable for the student. It also saves students from spending time travelling to the university, the costs of travelling to the university and the costs of staying near the university.
Teaching Methods
Teaching methods include a series of lectures (Powerpoint lectures, video lectures and i-lectures) supplemented by online discussions, forums and quizzes. For each subject taken, students will be part of a student online community. Students will also be assigned a mentor who will be available to answer any questions and provide feedback on their progress.
Students will be assessed fully online via the in-course assessment assignments and end of module assessment assignment so they don’t need to be at the University to sit your exams. They will the receive their grades and feedback online.
In order to do this, students will be required to have a desktop/laptop, internet connection, a headset and webcam to participate in online tutorials and other group activities, access to standard office software – such as Microsoft Word and Excel, plus any standard browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox and Skype for certain online sessions.
Your Commitment
Time will be an ODL student’s most important commitment – understanding, working through and reflecting on all teaching materials. The hours spent per week on their studies for the duration of the programme depends on module taken.
Support from University
ODL students are fully registered student of the University with all of the support and services available to them, the same as the on-campus students. Technical support will also be provided if students have difficulty in accessing the e-learning platform.
Why Study Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at IMU?
An Established Private Healthcare University
IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and healthcare university with over 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education.
IMU achieved the SETARA-2018/2019 Tier 6 status (Outstanding) under the Mature University category.
Renowned and Highly Experienced Faculty
Students will be taught and supervised by staff who are experts in their field with well-established reputations nationally and internationally. The academic community of IMU pursues and achieves excellence in a wide range of research activities.
Many of them present their research findings in international conferences to keep up to date with the latest development in specialised areas. They also publish their findings in international peer-reviewed journals.
Curriculum Benchmarked to International Standards
The curriculum has been developed to meet high international standards and stringent Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) standards.
The programme is accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. The Royal Society of Chemistry is the world’s leading chemistry community and the oldest chemical society in the world.
Pursue a Master’s Degree While Working Full Time
Face-to-face teaching and learning activities are conducted on weekends for the convenience of students who have personal or work commitments on weekdays.
Students have the option to conduct the research project at their workplace, and the flexibility to choose the optimum number of credits to take each semester to suit their personal, work and study commitments.
ODL mode offers additional flexibility to study out of campus
Research Partnerships
Students will benefit from IMU’s national and international research collaborations with renowned institutions in areas such as drug discovery, design and development, natural products, drug synthesis, pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis.
Programme Structure
| 1 (20 weeks) | 2 (20 weeks) | |
|---|---|---|
| The mixed mode programme consists of two semesters and is a combination of course work (21 credits) and research (22 credits). New semesters commence in March and September each year and each semester comprises 20 weeks.
Face-to-face teaching and learning activities are conducted on weekends. The Course Modules include
|
Course work modules including Research Methodology & Scientific Writing
|
Course work modules
|
Entry Requirement
| A. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS | B. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|
Applicants are required to have obtained:
|
For Malaysian Students
Not applicable |
For International Students
The following categories of students are exempted from the above requirements:
|
Note
Please note that achieving the minimum Entry and English requirements as stated does not guarantee you admission into any of IMU’s programmes.
Please refer to our Student Admissions Policy for more information
Application and Registration Fees
| Fee | Malaysian Student (RM) | International Student (RM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | 150 | 500 | |
| Registration Fee | 1,100 | 3,400 | |
| Refundable Caution Deposit | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| Student Association Fee per Semester | 40 | 40 | |
Fee Structure
Malaysian Student
| Study Mode | No. of Credit Hour | Fee per Credit Hour (RM) | Total Fee (RM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 21 | 1,100 | 23,100 |
| Research Paper | 22 | 1,100 | 24,200 |
| Total Fee | 47,300 | ||
| Open & Distance Learning (ODL) | 21 | 900 | 18,900 |
| Research Paper | 22 | 1,100 | 24,200 |
| Total Fee | 43,100 |
International Student
| Study Mode | No. of Credit Hour | Fee per Credit Hour (RM) | Total Fee (RM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 21 | 1,250 | 26,250 |
| Research Paper | 22 | 1,250 | 27,500 |
| Total Fee | 53,750 | ||
| Open & Distance Learning (ODL) | 21 | 900 | 18,900 |
| Research Paper | 22 | 1,100 | 24,200 |
| Total Fee | 43,100 |
Views from Our Community
Ung Ser Ming
Alumnus, MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
After enrolling in the MAPC programme, I have gained a lot during my 1 year here. In terms of hands-on experience and also the various soft skills that I have come to acquire, it has equipped me with the additional knowledge and skills required to excel in a work setting. And for that, I do think it is one of the best choices I've made in my academic life to pursue this master's degree.
Wong Yoke Lan (Kath)
Alumnus, MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
The coursework and hands-on experiments have provided me with great knowledge and insight to pursue the career path that I am truly interested in. With the help from professors' guidance along the way, I am inspired to think critically and keep my passion going.
Bu Huey Enn
Alumnus, MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
The experiential learning has assuredly honed my laboratory skills, from drug design and synthesis to bioassay techniques. The research project has trained and prepared me to face a job that commands analytical knowledge and practical competence. Therefore, I staunchly believe that this programme can mould students into well-rounded individuals, which distinguishes them from the massive influx of graduates to a prosperous vocation.
Eddy Yii Chung Ann
Alumnus, MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
The flexibility of the IMU MAPC programme has allowed me to work and study in parallel. The rich curriculum structure of this programme is certainly beneficial to all students who wish to gain a deeper insight into the growth of pharmaceutical research and industries. I am truly grateful for everything I learned in the MAPC programme, especially to be able to learn drug discovery and design using high-end software/databases as well as to exchange opinions with different experts during the Quality Management & Regulatory Systems module.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure of the programme?
Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]
What are the teaching/learning approaches used?
Teaching and learning methods vary in line with the objectives of the course modules. They include interactive plenary, workshop, computer aided learning, hands-on laboratory practical and blended learning (combination of online with classroom learning).
How are the students’ progress assessed?
Students are continuously assessed throughout the programme via in course-assessments including assignments, practical reports and oral presentations. There are no written examinations. To progress from one semester to the next, students must perform satisfactorily during each semester.
Who are the teaching staff?
The faculty, comprising local and international lecturers with PhD qualification, have many years of academic and industry experience in various related field of specialisations that include pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, analytical chemistry, polymer chemistry, natural products, inorganic chemistry, surfactant chemistry, oleochemistry, pharmaceutical technology, biotechnology, molecular biology, drug discovery, formulation and drug delivery, pharmacokinetics and pharmacognosy. All faculty are actively involved in research and much of their work has been published in ISI-indexed journals. Some staff have successfully patented their discoveries.
What is the mode of this master’s programme? How it could be differentiated from other modes of master’s study?
This programme is a mixed mode master’s, which is a combination of taught coursework with research component consisting of at least half the total credits of the programme. Taught masters on the other hand consist mainly of taught coursework, with or without a small component of project work. Masters by research consist of research component only.
Can I pursue a PhD after completing this programme?
Yes, you can pursue a PhD after completion of this programme. A relevant master’s may be a requirement for PhD studies. Students who graduated in this programme were able to successfully obtain scholarships to pursue their PhD.
What are my career opportunities after completing this programme?
You may work in pharmaceutical, chemical, oleochemical and phytochemical industries, besides working in specialised government institutions, like the Chemistry Department of Malaysia, and partake in drug testing and evaluation. This programme is also a stepping stone to PhD study.
Are there hands-on laboratory practical in this programme?
Yes, besides research, the two coursework modules Modern Analytical Techniques in Quantitative Analysis and Modern Analytical Techniques in Qualitative Analysis contains hands-on laboratory practical of 46 hours and 19 hours, respectively.
Are there hands-on laboratory practical in this programme?
Yes, besides research, the two coursework modules Modern Analytical Techniques in Quantitative Analysis and Modern Analytical Techniques in Qualitative Analysis contains hands-on laboratory practical of 46 hours and 19 hours, respectively.
Are there hands-on computational simulations in this programme?
Yes, in one of the coursework modules Computational Drug Discovery Techniques comprising dedicated facilitated hands-on computational simulations of 65 hours. You will perform a variety of chemistry modeling, analysis and computational tasks.
Can I work while studying this programme?
Yes, this programme is suitable for students who wish to study full time, or part time. Students with work commitment can study part time while keeping their job. As all the face-to-face teaching is conducted during weekends, your work commitment during the weekdays are not interrupted. Research work can be conducted in students’ workplace if facilities are available to support the research work.
Is publication in peer reviewed journal a pre-requisite to graduate?
No, publication in peer reviewed journal is not a pre-requisite to graduate. You are however, highly encouraged to publish your master’s work to advance your field of research,
What is the difference between full-time and part-time study?
The duration for full-time is 1 year and students must register for all the modules in every semester to complete the programme within the stipulated time. In part-time, the number of modules to register every semester is flexible, so long as you pass all the required modules within 6 years. Part-time students are to complete the research within 3 semesters once the research has started.
As a student, what feedback will I get?
You will receive continuous feedback for improvement as you progress in every module. Here are some examples. After every oral presentation, you will receive feedback on the accuracy of the content of your presentation, and also on the soft skills aspects on delivering a presentation. After every written assignment is marked, it will be returned to you with the grades and written feedback.
What are the areas of research I can be involved in?
Areas of research under this programme cover various disciplines of chemistry encompassing analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, phytochemistry and formulation science.
Analytical chemistry: Separation, purification, identification and quantification of chemical compounds through different analytical techniques and tools.
Medicinal chemistry: Discovery or design of new therapeutic chemicals and their development into useful medicines. It may involve synthesis of new compounds and investigations of their relationships between the structure of natural or synthetic compounds and their biological activities.
Computational chemistry: Use of computer simulations to assist in drug design and discovery, including virtual screening of databases, identification of correlations between chemical structures and biological properties, as well as computational approaches to design molecules that interact in specific ways with therapeutic target of interest.
Phytochemistry: Isolation, identification, structure elucidation, and study of biological properties of chemical substances derived from plants.
Formulation science: Determination of the proper combination of ingredients in pharmaceutical products to achieve balance in quality and stability.
What is the difference between Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Conventional mode?
In ODL mode, lectures and workshops are conducted online and hands-on laboratory is held face-to-face in campus. In Conventional mode most of the teaching sessions are face-to-face in campus, with some online activities such as e-forums.
What are the research facilities at IMU?
The Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) of IMU serves as a platform to govern all research activities and to oversee all academic matters related to postgraduate programmes.
Sufficient facilities are provided for research use, which mainly include cell culture, microbiology and synthetic laboratories. These laboratories are well equipped with equipment for pertinent research activities, such as biosafety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, flow cytometer, multiplex Luminex system, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).
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A Word from the Programme Director
ChM. DR CHIN SWEE YEE
Senior Lecturer and Programme Director
BSc (Hons) (UMS), MSc (UM),
PhD (UKM)
“The programme builds on your undergraduate chemistry experience and provides specialised knowledge and practical experience in a wide range of modern analytical techniques. The programme also develops advanced knowledge and skills in pharmaceutical chemistry focusing on various aspects of drug discovery, design and development. As the programme has a unique blend of both analytical and pharmaceutical chemistry disciplines, you will have good opportunities for career progression and job prospects in a range of industries.”